Florida Bills Limiting Cell Phone Use By Drivers Hit Dead End

Several bills that would have restricted drivers who talk or text message on their cell phones appear to be headed toward a dead end in the Florida Legislature.

The bills would have banned drivers from sending text messages and required them to use a handsfree device while talking on their cell phone. There were also bills that would have made it illegal to use a cell phone in a school zone or for drivers under age 18 to use them.

None of the bills is expected to pass as the Legislature is focused on the budget with Friday’s deadline to end the session.

Proponents pointed to several fatal accidents linked to cell phone usage in an attempt to push the bills. Six states ban the use of hand-held cell phones behind the wheel. Text messaging while driving is banned in 10 states.

Latest Comments

• May 1, 2009 at 2:19 am

  Greg says:

  DWT, I like the no cell phone zone idea if it could be set up in such a way that it does not prevent 911 calls from these zones.
• April 30, 2009 at 8:00 am

  DWT says:

  Sorry Sandman, I have to disagree, at least to an extent. Yes some people are better than others at talking and driving, but with as crazy as most drives are these days and di... read more
• April 29, 2009 at 2:06 am

  sandman says:

  Some people can talk and drive, many can not. Should we restrict those that can talk (not text) safely. ON the other hand I had a semi pull out in front of me today as the d... read more